Abstract
The
co-Editors-in-Chief of Environmental Health respond to an unusual
initiative taken by editors of 14 toxicology journals to influence pending
decisions by the European Commission to establish a framework for regulating
chemicals that pose a hazard to normal function of the endocrine system. This
initiative is also the subject of this Commentary in this journal by authors who
recently reviewed the subject and who point out inaccuracies in the toxicology
editors’ critique. The dispute is about potential public policy development,
rather than on science translation and research opportunities and priorities.
The toxicology journal editors recommend that chemicals be examined in depth one
by one, ignoring modern achievements in biomedical research that would allow new
understanding of the effects of classes of toxic substances in complex
biological systems. Concerns about
policy positions framed as scientific ones are especially important in a time
with shrinking public support for biomedical research affects priorities. In
such a setting, conflict of interest declarations are important, especially in
research publications that address issues of public concern and where financial
and other interests may play a role. Science relies on trust, and reasonable disclosure of
financial or other potential conflicts is therefore essential. This need has
been emphasized by recent discoveries of hidden financial conflicts in
publications in toxicology journals, thus misleading readers and the public
about the safety of particular industrial products. The transparency
provided by Environmental Health includes open access and open peer
review, with reader access to reviews, including the identity of reviewers and
their statements on possible conflicts of interest. However, the editors of the
14 toxicology journals did not provide any information on potential conflicts of
interest, an oversight that needs to be corrected.
Philippe
Grandjean12*
and David Ozonoff3
Editorial, Environmental Health 2013, 12:70 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-70 http://www.ehjournal.net/
Please see related Commentary: http://www.ehjournal.net/
Published: 27 August 2013
Editorial, Environmental Health 2013, 12:70 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-70 http://www.ehjournal.net/
Please see related Commentary: http://www.ehjournal.net/
Published: 27 August 2013
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